Hamas protesters gather at Rafah crossing

RAFAH, Egypt, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Hundreds of Hamas supporters gathered Sunday on the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing to protest closure of the terminal, officials said.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the protest was aimed at "embarrassing" the Egyptians into reopening the border crossing.

A Hamas official said Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was an "American puppet and dictator," and accused Mubarak of reneging on his promise to reopen the Rafah terminal once Hamas had accepted the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire with Israel.

"Mubarak is too afraid to make a decision on his own," the Hamas official said. "He's afraid of the Americans and the Israelis. He's also under pressure from (Palestinian President) Mahmoud Abbas not to open the Rafah border crossing out of fear that such a move would boost Hamas's standing."

The unnamed official told the newspaper there was no reason for the continued closure of the border crossing.

"Hamas has abided by the cease-fire agreement, but the Egyptians haven't fulfilled their promise to reopen the border," he said. "Hamas won't resume the negotiations over a prisoner exchange (with Israel) until the Egyptians reopen the border crossing."